On Saturday, October 2nd at 11 AM. the Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds will ride to the farm. Bring your binoculars to catch the spectacular view of many happy, frisky, hounds, majestic horses, riders, and the hunt master as the traditional fox chase rides to our farm! On Saturday and Sunday, we will also continue our special Decorator Weekend, so make sure you come by for all your fall decorating needs!

On September 25th & 26th Sharp Farm will be open for the fall season! It is also a special "Decorator Weekend"! We will have all the fall decorations that you need...corn stalks, hay bales, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, mums, pansies, & more! Also, Sharp Farm & Growing Soul, a local non-profit, will join together to demonstate how to compost. Demonstrations and instruction will be given at noon, 2, 3, & 4PM. both Saturday and Sunday! While you are here take a free hayride to our acres of home grown pumpkins! Then visit our farm animals or make a family scarecrow.

There’s s’more summer fun for families Tuesday, Aug. 10, when Naper Settlement celebrates National S’Mores Day. Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville, will be open late until 8 p.m. Families can bring a picnic dinner, make s’mores from 6 to 8 p.m., take twilight tours of the buildings and enjoy listening to Emmy award-winning storyteller Jim May from 7 to 8 p.m. May is the cofounder of the Illinois Storytelling Festival, its artistic director for 20 years, and one of the leaders of the storytelling revival.

Bring your creations to life! Use your artistic skills and PicoCricket technology to create playful inventions such as musical sculptures, motion modules and fantastic creatures! Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Recommended for ages 5 and up. For more info visit www.kidsquestmuseum.org. Saturday, August 14, 10-11:30am Thursday, August 19, 6-7:30pm

Join us as we discover which birds might visit our feeders in winter. We'll create a winter tree for the birds and make a simple bird feeder to take home. The cost of this program is $6 for residents and $8 for non-residents. This program is for children ages 7-12.

Colorful and edible gingerbread houses are easy and fun to make with the help of the Heritage Farm staff. Learn how to make this traditional German cookie house while you and your child listen to a reading of the fairytale 'Hansel and Gretel'. Each child must be accompanied by an adult, however only the child needs to register. The cost of this program is $18 for residents and $22.50 for non-residents. This program is for children ages 5-8.

Spend your evening becoming a pioneer! We'll walk from the Nature Center to the Cabin, cook our food in the fireplace, and dip candles the old-fashioned way. The cost of this program is $16 for residents and $20 for non-residents. This program is for children ages 7-12.

Learn about farm animals while feeding and caring for them at the Heritage Farm. Each week, participants will learn about a different farm animal. The cost of this 5-week program is $30 for residents and $45 for non-residents. This program is for children ages 8-12.

Pioneer cooking can be a challenge! Try your hand at cooking over an open wood fire, then eat your results. This program costs $8 for residents, $12 for non-residents, is for children ages 7-12, and meets at the Nature Center.

Stay or leave? Remain active or hibernate? Live or die? How would you prepare for winter? As the days shorten and the temperatures drop, we will explore some of the many ways that Spring Valley animals get ready for the big chill. This program costs $4 for residents, $6 for non-residenst, and is for children ages 7-10.